Remember when
sex used to be fun? These days, with nearly every STD (sexually transmitted disease) on the rise, you practically have to ask for a blood sample before you can crawl into bed and make love to someone. It is one thing to catch something that requires a little penicillin to get rid of, but it is another thing altogether when you catch something that requires a lifetime of discomfort and expensive medical treatment. This article focuses on the big four: HPV, HIV/AIDS, Herpes and Hepatitis C. What do they all have in common? Two things: 1) You can get them from having
sex. 2) They have no cure.
HPV – Human Papillomavirus
What is it?
HPV is a very nasty virus that can lead to an unbelievable explosion of unwanted growth on your genitals. The virus causes warts, and the warts can lead to cancer. However, there are many different versions of this disease. It is possible to be exposed to it and never have any symptoms, or only show the symptoms once before the virus becomes dormant. When warts are present, the virus is active. It can lead to cervical cancer in woman, so regular pap smears are important.
Symptoms
The main visual symptom for HPV is the dreaded warts. However, there are versions of this disease that have no external signs associated with it. Visual signs include white or flesh colored bumps or warts on the genitals. There could also be longer appendage-like growths, or ‘cauliflower-like’ clusters in extreme cases.
Prevention
Skin to skin contact is the primary transmission source for the disease, so condoms are the best defense. Failing that, look close and examine the area. If there are no visible warts evident, then you might be safe. However, not all HPV viruses involve warts that can be detected by the naked eye. For more information refer to: www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/
HIV/AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
What is it?
AIDS is the worst of the incurable STDs, since it more often than not leads to death. HIV is the precursor to AIDS, and with the plethora of drugs on the market, a person who tests positive for HIV can go many years without developing AIDS – the full blown version of the disease. The reason AIDS is so devastating is that it attacks the immune system. So as the virus multiplies, it destroys the body’s capability to defend itself against other diseases. The virus can only get into your body through fluid transmission (blood, semen). Any tearing that occurs during sex (vaginal or anal) become prime sites for the virus to infect white blood cells.
Symptoms
If a person has HIV, then there really are no visual clues to look for. In fact, HIV can go undetected in the blood stream for up to three months after infection; so extra caution is called for if your partner recently had unprotected sex. AIDS, however, is far more noticeable. Early signs can be swelling in the lymph glands, thrush (throat infection), weight loss, skin marks that are purplish in color, dry cough, and diarrhea.
Prevention
Condoms are once again a great source of protection, particularly if your partner is new. Keep in mind that some people who are HIV positive never develop full-blown AIDS, while in others the disease takes 5-10 years to develop. For more info, check out: www.projectinform.org
GENITAL HERPES
What is it?
Genital Herpes is viral disease that is contracted by direct contact with an infected person. Herpes is usually detected by cold sores/lesions that appear on the mouth or genitals. The sores are the ‘face’ of the virus, and are a sign that the virus is active. Once a person is infected with the disease, it remains in the body for life. The outbreaks can and should be controlled, and it is unwise to engage in sex with someone who is displaying signs of an active virus.
Symptoms
The main visual clues are the lesions. The lesions can occur nearly everywhere on the body, but around the mouth and genitals are the two most common sites. However, the virus can also be active without any lesions being present. A person with herpes may not even realize they have the infection, particularly if they are not displaying any sores.
Prevention
Condoms are the first line of defense, and knowledge is the second. It is possible for a person with herpes to have a healthy sex life without infecting his/her partner, as long as they are both aware of when the outbreaks occur. Check out the herpes website for more detailed info: www.herpes.com
HEPATITIS C (HCV)
What is it?
Hepatitis C is viral disease that affects the liver. There are several version of Hepatitis, but Hepatitis C is the one that can have the most damaging health effects. Once inside the body, the virus settles in the liver where it is attacked by the body’s immune system. The subsequent attack can cause inflammation and damage to the liver. Most people contract the disease through needle sharing, blood products, and (less frequently) unprotected sex.
Symptoms
Diseases of the liver are often accompanied with yellowing of the eyes and skin, pain on the right side of the abdomen, and great fatigue. Some people become quite incapacitated by the disease, so the visual signs may vary. Furthermore, the incubation period can be as high as several weeks. Many carriers may never become sick enough to even realize they have the disease, or think their symptoms are related to the flu.
Prevention
Condoms, once again, are the best protection. Although it is not easy to catch hepatitis C through sex, the virus can get into the body through cuts or tearing. Furthermore, although there are vaccines for hepatitis A and B, there isn’t one for hepatitis C. Check out the hepatitis website for more detailed info: www.hepatitis-c.de
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